Well packer apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. C. BROWN ETAL WELL. PACKER APPARATUS Jan. 19, 1965 Filed Jan. 19, 1962 JHIL 19, 1955 c. c. BROWN ETAL 3,166,127-

WELL PACKER APPARATUS BY "WM" @uw Jan 19, 1965 c. c.-BRowN ETAL 3,166,127

WELL PACKER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 19, 1962 C/CERO C. BROWN CHUDLE/GH E COCHRQV INVENTORS W' W BY mi Hr ATTOr'a-VE es Jan. 19, 1965 c. c. BROWN ETAL 3,166,127

WELL PACKER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1962 C/CERO C. BROWN C//HLE/G/ .B. @00A/RAN IN VEN TORS United States Patent' 3,166,127 WELL PACKER APPARATUS Cicero C. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, Houston, Tex., and

Chudleigh B. Cochran, Houston, Tex.; said Cochran assigner to said Brown Filed Jan. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 167,3i2 18 Claims. (Cl. 166-12t) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well packer apparatus and relates particularly to dual production well packers.

It is one object of this invention to Aprovide a well packer adaptable for use in dual production wells which is set by the application of pressure tluid and is released by manipulation of one of the pipe strings to which it is connected.

An important object is to provide a well packer having means for moving the packing element and pipe gripping slips thereof into a set position by the application of pressure fluid, together with separate mechanical locking means for positively locking said packer in its set position, whereby the pressure uid which set said packer may be completely relieved from said packer setting means without releasing said packer from said set position.

Another object is to provide a well packer,fof the character described, which includes an improved mechanical locking means for locking the packer in set position, which mechanical locking means is acted upon, during the setting operation, by the pressure iiuid which sets the packer to assure said locking means will instantaneously function upon release of said setting pressure.

A further object is to provide an improved locking assembly for a pressure fluid operated packer setting means, said assembly including a locking rod carried by one part of the setting means and a gripping member carried by another part of said setting means and so associated with the setting means that after the same is operated, it is locked against release by the locking rod and gripping member; the assembly also including a pressure responsive element coacting with the locking assembly, which element is exposed to the same pressure fluid that operates the packer setting means, whereby the coaction between the pressure responsive element and said locking assembly, during the setting operation, maintains a close contact between the locking rod and the gripping member to assure that when the setting force is relieved, the locking assembly will instantaneously act to prevent any reverse movement of the packer setting means toward an unsetting position.

A further object is to provide an improved well packer having a pair of passages extending therethrough with a tubular mandrel or section forming part of a well tubing` string extending through each of said passages, said packer including an improved releasing means for releasing said packer from set position, which releasing means comprises, a screw thread system located above the packing element and operable by manipulation of one of the pipe strings, said screw thread system being so connected that unsetting and release of the well packer may be accomplished without having to impart rotation to one of the mandrels extending through the set packing element of said packer.

Another object is to provide a well packer, of the character described, which includes auxiliary pressure actuated anchoring means at its upper end together with a passage establishing communication between the anchoring means and the area below the packer when the packer is in set position, said anchoring means being isolated from and independent of pressure in the tubing string, whereby a higher pressure below the packer which would tend to displace the packer upwardly will act upon the auxiliary anchoring means to move the same into tight ICC gripping position to lock the packer against upward displacement or movement in the well bore.

Another object is to provide a dual completion well packer apparatus having connection with a pair ofindependent well pipe strings, and having a mechanical locking assembly coacting with the packer setting Jmeans for locking said packer setting means against unsetting; said packer .being releasable by manipulation of one pipe string, whereby the other string need never be rotated, thereby making the apparatus particularly adapted for use with lgas lift valves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dual string packer of the character described, which is so constructed that one of the tubing strings attached to the packer may be removed from said packer by a straight longitudinal pull and without rotation after the packer -is set and without releasing said packer from said set position.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof. Y

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following speciiication and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and where- FIGURE l is a vertical sectional view o f a well packer constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the packer parts in the position they assume during lowering within the well bore;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view with the packer in set position;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view illustrating the manipulation of one of the packer mandrels which efect the unsetting and release of the packer;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional-view of the upper portion of the packer, taken on the lines 4-4' of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view of the locking assembly which locks the packer in set position;

FIGURE 6 is a detail elevation of one of the pipe gripping slips; t

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view takenV on the lines 7--7 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 8--8' of FIGURE l; v t

FIGURE 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the lines 9 9 of FIGURE 4; Y

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional viewtaken along lines 10-10 of FIGURE 4;`

FIGURE l1 isa diagrammatic View of the well packer set within a well bore above a second well packer to conduct well iuids from two separate formations through independent pipe'strings with gas `lift valves illustrated as mounted on one of the strings above the upper packer; and s FIGURE l2 is a crosseectional viewtaken on the lines 12-12 of FIGURE 11.

In the drawings (FIGURE 1), the letter A designates an elastic packing element which has an upper labutment or head member B disposed thereabove. Immediately beiow the packing element is anY anchoring means C and connected with the anchoring means is a hydraulicallyactuated setting means D. Below the hydraulically-actu-- ated means D isla lower abutment E. The elements A, B, C, D and E comprise the packer assembly structure and each of these elements is provided with spaced parallel openings which align with each other longitudinally to form two elongate passages extending throughout thel length of the packer structure. A rst tubular support or mandrel 10 extend-s through one series of aligned j `v:adecuar its lower `end projects below the lower abutment E. A

i Y second tubular support or mandrel 11 has its upper end threaded at 11a into the opening 13 in the upper head member B and extends downwardly kthrough elements A, C, D and E to project below the packer. structure; the lower end of the support 11 is coupled lthrough a sub or nipple 11b ,to Ea safety kjointiconnection 12, which, in turn, is connected to thelower portion of a rst tubing string T1. A second tubing string T2 hasitslower end connected in one of `the openings 13a in the head member B.

and 11 form the main Vsupporting members of the packer structure andsaid packer structure is suspended from one of the tubing strings T2. x

The well packerr` is preferably lowered by means of the tubing string T2 and during lowering, the packingl the upper endk of the opening 13 formed in the head member B Y.to communicate with the tubular support 11 and the lower portion of string Ti. When the packer is to be set, a closure or `ball 17 (FIGURE 2) is dropped which is confined between a shoulder in the passage 13a of the abutment body 23 and a ring nut 26 which is threaded 'into the lower end of said passage; suitable annular bearings 25a and 26a are interposed between the extremities of the enlarged portion 24 and the shoulder 25 and ring nut 26 respectively. vThe bore of the enlarged `With this arrangement, the tubular supports or mandrels n downwardly through the second tubing string T2 to'ciose l the lower end of the bore of the mandrel 10 and, thereafter, fluid is conducted to the hydraulically-actuated means D'which, as will *be explained, functions to set the anchoring means C and to deform the packing element A into sealing position with Athe well pipe 15. The position in set position -is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

To maintain'the packing element and the anchoring of the parts when the packer and anchoring means are means 'in set position, a locking assembly generally indicated at L (FIGURE 4) is associated with the anchoring means and functions to prevent release of the anchoring means and unsetting of the packing element even thoughy the hydraulic pressure which initially actuates the hydraulically-actuated means D is relieved. The release of the anchoring means and unsetting of the packer to permit its removal from the well pipe is accomplished by manipulation of tubing string T2, as will be hereinafter explainedin detail.

Referring to the particular construction of the various elements, the packing element A may take any desired form and as illustrated includes two generally cylindrical bodies 19 of rubber or other elastic material spaced from each other by a spacingring 20. The upper and lower ends of the packing bodies are confined by anti-extrusion end rings 21 and'22 which are constructed of a soft metal, such as lead, and which are deformed radially outwardly when the packer `is Vin set position. Said `packing bodies have parallel openings 19a extending therethrough which form part of the longitudinal passages through which the mandrels v10 and 11 extend. l Y i The upper abutment or head member B consists of a solid metallic body 23 having the parallel openings or passageways 13 and V13a extending therethrough-, the openings and 13a, like the openings 19a in the packing element, Iform part vofthelongitudinal passages. through whichthe mandrels extend. As noted, the-tubular support or mandrel 11 is secured to the upper abutmentA B by the thread 11a' so that any movement of the upper abutment B will result -in a similar movement Vof said tubular support. The extreme upper end of the abutment bodyis inclined or tapered as indicated at 23a and this taper or inclination, as shown .in FIGURE 11, is for the purpose of guiding the lower end of the upper portion of the tubular string T1 into the passage 13 'of said abutment. f

vThe other tubing string T2 has an enlarged portion 24 portion of tubing string T2 has a coarse threaded connection 10a with the upper end of the tubular support or mandrel 10. The threads of the connection 10a are preferably left hand threads,rwhereby longitudinal movement of the tubing string T2 with respect to the mandrel 16 may be accomplished by r-ight hand rotation of said string T2 relative to said mandrel. f n

yImmediately below and abutting the lower end of the packing elementfA is the anchoring means C which is more clearly shown in FIGURE 4. This anchoring means includes an expander cone 27, the upper end of which is engaged by the lower end of the packing element A. Vertical open-ings 27a are formed in the cone (FIGURE 1) and such openings are aligned with the openings 19a in .the packing elementk and the passageways 13 and 13a in the upper abutment to provide the longitudinal passages through which the mandrels 10 and 11 extend. Each opening 27a in the expander cone 27 is counter-boredk (FIGURES l and 2) to form an annular shoulder 2711 which is adapted to engage a snap ring 27C; the snap rings aremounted on the exterior surfaces of the tubular supports or mandrels 10 and'11. During lowering of the packer into the well, the snap rings provide a shoulder in the upper end of a slip-carrier block 32. The block has parallel longitudinal openings 32a which are aligned with the similar parallel openings in the expander cone,A

packing element and upper abutment and through which g the supports lil and 11 extend. When the slip carrier block 32 is moved upwardly on said tubular supports 10 and 11, the pipe gripping slips 29 are moved upwardly with respect to the inclined surfaces 28 of the expander cone 26 and this results in -a radially outward movement i of said slips. Thus, upward movement of the slip-carrier 32 will effect an expansion ofthe slips 29 into pipe-gripping position. Y

The slip carrier block 32 is attached by suitable screws 34 with the upper end of a cylinder 35 which forms parti of the hydraulically-actuated means D. The cylinder' extends downwardly to encirclethe body' 36 of the lower' abutment E and is sealed with the exterior of the body' by an lO-ring or otherrsuitable sealing means; initially the cylinder is attached to said body by one or more shear pins 37 (FGURES 1 and 2). YThe upper portion of the body 36 forms la stationary piston P which is located within theV cylinder 35. The body 36 of the lower abutment has a pair of parallel passages 36a and 36h through which the supports 11 and 10 extend and suit-- able seals, such as O-ring/s, sealbetween the supports and the bores ofk said passages The passage 36a through which the support 11 extends is .counter-bored to form an upper internal shoulder 36C and a stop collar 38 is threaded into the lower end of the passage with the upper end of the collar forming a lower internal shoulder 36d.

The tubular support 11 extends entirely through opening,

36a 'of the lower abutment 36 and a snap ring 39 is secured to the support to be movable in the counterbore betweeny the upper and-lower shoulders 36e and 36d.

With the parts in position as shownin FIGUREil, the

engagement of shoulder 36d with the snapjring limitsupward movement of body 36 relative to the support, whereby an accidental setting of the packer is prevented during lowering. l

'The tubular support 10 extends entirely through the second passage 36h of the lower abutment and is nonrotatably connected to the body 36 of said abutment byY the clutch 40 (FIGURE 8). Since one part of this clutch is secured to the support 10, said support, vwhich as explained is connected to tubing T2, functions to support the entire packer assembly during lowering into the well. A tubular collar 41 having a reduced internal annular seat 41a is threaded onto the extreme lower end of the mandrel and communicates with the area below the packer structure.

In order to introduce pressure iiuid into the cylinder and into the area above the stationary piston P formed by the lower abutment, a plurality of por-ts 42a are formed in the lower portion of the support or maudrel 10. AThese ports are so located that when the closure 17, which may be a ball, engages the seat 41a of collar 41, pressure tluid may be directed downwardly through the second tubing strip T 2 and through the ports 42a into the cylinder above the stationary piston P. Such pressure is thus applied to act upwardly against the slip carrier 32 and said carrier moves upwardly because the piston P is held against downward movement by reason of the body 36 being supported through clutch 40 by the tubing string T2. The slip carrier 32 is, of course, suitably sealed with the wall of the cylinder and with the exterior of the tubular supports or mandrels 10 and 11. Upward movement of the slip carrier results in applying an upward force to the slips 29 to move them into gripping engagement with lthe well pipe and thereafter the pressure forces ac-t downwardly on the upper end of piston P formed by the lower abutment body 36. The downward force is transmitted through collar 38, clutch 4t? and mandrel llt) to the upper abutment 23 which is pulled downwardly to apply endwise force to the packing element and thereby set lthe same into sealing position. The set position ofthe packer isillustrated in FIGURE 2.

After the packing element A and anchoring means C have moved to a set position, it is desirable to release the setting pressure from the tubing string T2 and in order to maintain the packer in `set position after the release of setting pressure, the locking assembly, generally indicated at L, in` FIGURE 4 is provided. The assembly is located within the body of the lower abutment 36 and includes a pair of locking rods 42 which have their upper ends threaded or otherwise secured in the underside of the slip carrier block 32. As shown in FIGURE 10, the locking rods are disposed in a transverse plane which is at substantially a right angle to the plane in which the passages 36a and 36h in the lower abutment 36 are located. Each rod extends downwardly through a vertical bore 43 in the lower abutment and has its lower end project-ing below said abutment. The bore 43 is of larger diameter than the rod 42 and the upper end of said bore communicates with the area between the piston P and the underside of the slip carrier block, whereby pressure uid from this area may enter the annular space between each rod and its bore.

The lower portion of each bore 43 is counterbored and enlarged at 43a to form an internal shoulder 43b and an annular piston 44 which surrounds the rod is slidable in the counterbore. Gripping elements 45 having inner buttress-type teeth 45a are disposed below the piston and the outer inclined surface of each gripping element is confined and co-acts with the inclined bore of a supporting nipple 46 which is threaded into the lower end of the bore 43. The buttress-type gripping teeth engage the outer surface of the locking rod and allow the rod to move upwardly relative thereto but prevent reverse or downward movement of the rod with respect to the lower abutment 36.

When pressure fluid is applied to the slip carrier block 32 to move the block upwardly and thereby set the main slips 29, the locking rods 42 aretraised upwardly within their respective bores 43 in the lower abutment and move upwardly relative to the gripping elements 45.

However, downward movement of the rods relative to.

the abutment is prevented by the engagement of the gripping elements therewith. The pressure iiuid which moves the `slip carrier block 32 upwardly also acts through the bores 43 against the upper end of each piston 44 to maintain the gripping elements in contact with the rods; therefore as soon as pressure uid acting against the slip carrier block 32 is relieved, any tendencyv of the block to move in a direction to release the main slips 29 is prevented because the rods 42 are locked against downward movement by the gripping elements. Y By varying the area of each of the annular pistons 44, the force with which each set of gripping elements 45 is urged into contact with Iits respective locking rod may bervaried. Upon setting of the anchoring means C followed by setting of the packing element A, the locking rods function to prevent unsetting even though the setting pressure is released.

It is also pointed out that during the setting operation the various sealing rings on the slip carrier block 32,k cylinder 35 and piston P must be effective to hold the pressure so that the desired upward force is imparted against the slip carrier 32 and main pipe gripping slipsr 29 to ettect upward movement of the Vlatter into a set position. However, after the packer has been set, the lockdown gripping elements 45 which engage .the locking rods function as a mechanical gripping means and do notV depend upon the trapping of a -pressure iluid to prevent any reverse or downward motion of the main gripping slips or abutments toward an unsetting position. Therefore, even though certain of the seals in the hydraulic piston, cylinder and slip carrier block should be rendered ineiiective by leakage, subsequent to the setting operation, it is assured that the packer will be maintained in a set position. The use of a mechanical lock-down means, as distinguished from hydraulic hold-down, is of advantage because in certain instances, particularly where a packer has remained in .the well `for a considerable period of time, the sealing means of the hydraulic assembly may leal; or become ineiective.

To prevent excessive pressure from below the set packer from urging said packer upwardly in the wellvpipe, the assembly may be provided with pressure-actuated holddown buttons 5l. As shown in FIGURE 4, a pair of buttons 51 may be mounted on each side of the assembly, with each button being slidable within a recess 52 Vformed in the upper abutment 23. -A retaining strap 53overlies each button and prevents complete outward Adisplacement of each button from yits recess. Each pair of hold-down buttons has its rear surface exposed to the pressure in the.

down elements are operated solely by pressure in the well. bore and are not dependent upon pressure in the tubing` strings T1 and T2. n

For releasing thev packer from its set position, the tubing v string T2 is rotated to the right Vand since the lower abutculties which are presented when a mandrel must rotate within a set seal.

As the coarse threads of the connection 10a continu Y coarse threaded connection ltlaapplies an upward force through bearing-25a and yshoulder 25 to the uppervabutment body 23, thereby moving this abutment body upwardly to relieve the endwise force on the packing element A. It is pointed out that upward movement of the upper abutment, together with upward movement of the second mandrel 11 is permitted because the second mandrel has its snap rings 39 and 27e movable within limits with respect to the lower abutment body 36 and the expander cone 27, respectively. f

Rotation of tubing T2 continues until the upper abutment body 23 has movedrup far enough to release the packing element and by this time the snap ring 27C has moved up against shoulder 27h in the expander cone, whereby subsequent rotation of tubing T2 will jack the mandrel 11 upwardly to actually pull the expander cone from between the slip members. When the packing element is'releas'ed to break its seal with the well pipe, pressures aboveV and below the packer structurev are equalized,

which equalizesv pressure across the holddown buttons to pend the lower abutment body, as well as the slip carrier` block 32 and cylinder 35 therefrom; this suspension limits the downward movement of the slip carrier block relative to the expander cone and prevents the slips 29 from moving Vout vof their dovetail guide grooves in said cone. A subsequent straight upward pull on the Vpacker fractures a shear pin 12a in the safety joint 12 .at the lower end vof the mandrel and ypermits the packer structure to be retrieved from the well by means of the tubing T2.

In' summarizing the operation, the packer structure is connected with the tubing string T2 and is lowered into the Well pipe with the parts in the kposition shown in FIG- UREl.V A closure or ba1l-17 is dropped through the second. string T2 to engage theY seat 41a in the collar 41 at thel lower end of the mandrel 10. During the lowering operation, Vthe expander cone 27, packing element A and upperv abutment B are supported by the snap rings 27C which vare mounted on the mandrels and 11. The cylinder 35 is releasably latched in its lowered position relative to the lower abutment body 36 by the shearpins 37.V

y Following the positioning of the closure ball 17 on the seat '41a of collar 41 atthe Alower end of mandrel 10, pressure fluid is conducted downwardlyV through tubing string T2. This pressure passesthrough the ports 42a into the cylinder 35 between the piston P formed by the upper end 'of abutment body 36 .and the slip carrier block 32,

whereby an upwardforce -is applied to the slip carrier and to the cylinder." Such upward force shears the pin 37 allowing upward movement of cylinder 35`and slip carrier block 32 which. moves the slipsV 29 upwardly on the expander conefand into engagement with the wellrpipe. As soon as theJslips are set, the pressure force is applied in a downward direction on piston P which is, in fact7 the downwardly relativevto said locking rods sothat the net effect during the setting operation is thatthe gripping members move downwardly relative to the locking rods. As soon vas pressure is relieved` after both the anchoring means and packing element have been set, the gripping elements prevent any downward movement of the locking rods 42 relative to said members and thereby hold the packer in its set position; Being a purely mechanical locking means, the locking rods and gripping members 45 do not depend upon the continued application of lluid pressure and, therefore, even if some of the seals in the assembly should be rendered ineffective, a positive lock of the packer `structure in its set position is obtained.

In releasing the packer, it is only necessary to rotate the tubing T2 in a direction to the right so as to unscrew the left-hand threads of the connection 10a. As explained, this results in an upward movement of the upper abutment B to'unseat the packing element, after which The packer structure is particularly adaptable for use inV aY dual production well where yit is desired to run gas lit valves `on the string T1 which is commonlycalled the long string because it extends from the surface to the lowerrzone. ln `such a situation, `the string T1 cannot be rotated at any time and yet the string must be easily ret'rievable without effecting the setting of the packer in order that the valves may be serviced.

In FIGURE ll, a schematic illustration of the improved packer where gas lift valves are employed is shown. The well bore W traverses two production formations or zones Z1 and Z2 and a lower packer generally indicated at is set between the two zones. This packer may be a wire line packer or any other packer now generally used in the field and is provided with a bore 61 havinga seat 162 at its upper end. v

The packer of this invention has the lower portion of the tubing Vstring T1 connected therewith through the safety joint 12 and such lower portion may have an enlargement 163 for engaging the seat 162 in the lower packer. The tubing T2 is connected to the packer constructed in accordance with this invention and said packer j and the lower portion of the string T1 is lowered into position in the well by the tubing T2. Thereafter, the

lowerl abutment lbody 36 and through collar 3S and clutch ing element, the gripping members 45 are moved further upper portion of the string T1 having the gas lift valves G mounted thereon may `be lowered and then seated in the passage 13 of the upper abutment E. The well head equipment generally indicated at is then mounted at the surface and the lower production Zone is produced through string T1 by means of the gas lift valves. The Y lowered into position after the packers and the tubing string T2 arein position, each of the tubing strings may be independently handled.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a dual production packer is provided which may be set by hydraulic pressure and which may be released by manipulation of y one of the tubing strings. Of importance to the present invention is the locking assembly L which includes the annular pistons 43 which utilize the hydraulic force, which is moving the pipe-gripping slips upwardly, to act against the mechanical gripping members 45 to assure their close contact with the exterior, of the locking rods 42 during the setting operation. This means that immediately that the hydraulic force is relieved, the gripping members 45 are in position and firmly grip the external surface of locking rods 42 to prevent any reverse or downward movement of the gripping slips as well as upward movement of upper abutment B. Also of importance to the invention is the location of the releasing mechanism whereby it is not necessary to rotate or manipulate a mandrel through the set packing A which is often diicult. The release is effected simply by manipulating the tubing string T2.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A well packer apparatus lowerable within a well pipe including,

a tubular support,

an elastic packing mounted on the support,

an anchoring means on the support below the packing element and including outwardly movable pipe-gripping members for engaging said well pipe,

fluid pressure operated setting means on the support below the anchoring means,

means connecting the fluid pressure operated means with said anchoring means, v additional means including the tubular support connecting the iluid pressure operated setting means with the packing element, whereby actuation of the setting means moves the pipe gripping members into pipeengaging position and also moves the elastic packing element into sealing engagement with the pipe wall, a well tubing string having threaded connection with the upper end of the tubular support for lowering the packer into the well pipe,

means establishing communication between the tubing string and the setting means whereby iluid under pressure is conducted to the setting means to actuate the same,

and a mechanical locking means associated with the setting means for locking said setting means in the position to which it has moved during setting the anchoring means and packing element, whereby the pressure which actuated said setting means may be released and the mechanical locking means will maintain the anchoring means and the packing element in their set position.

2. A well packer apparatus as set forth in claim l, wherein said locking means comprises,

a locking rod secured to one part of the setting means,

and a gripping member carried by another partof said setting means,

said locking rod and gripping member being constructed to allow movement of said parts of the setting means relative to each otherrin a direction to set the anchoring means and packing element while preventing movement of said parts relativeto each other in an opposite direction.

3. A well packer apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein said locking means comprises,

a locking rod secured to one part ofthe setting means, and a gripping member carried by another part of preventing movement of said parts relative to each other in an opposite direction,Y

a pressure responsive element engaging the gripping member of said locking means,

means communicating the pressure responsive element with the uid under pressure which is utilized Vto actuate the setting means, whereby during actuation of the setting means a pressure force is applied to said pressure-responsive element and to the gripping member in a direction to maintain said gripping member in close contact with the locking rod to assure instantaneous gripping engagement between said rod and said gripping member upon release of the pressure fluid which actuates the setting means. Y

4. A well packer apparatus lowerable within a well pipe including,

a irst tubular support,

a second tubular support,

an upper abutment having connection with the upper ends of the supports,

an elastic packing element slideably mounted on the supports and having its upper end confined by the upper abutment,

anchoring means on the supports below the packing elements and including an expander which engages and confines the lower end of said packing element,

said anchoring means also including radially movable gripping slips engageable with the well pipe,

fluid pressure operated setting means comprising a piston secured to the lower end of one of the supports and a cylinder secured to the gripping slips of the anchoring means, whereby actuation of the setting means eiects a relative movement of piston and cylinder to rst move the gripping slips into pipe gripping position and to subsequently apply an endwise force to the packing element through downward movement of saidv one tubular support and upper abutment with respect to the packing element,

` means communicating one of said supports with said fluid pressure operated setting means so that uid pressure may be conducted to said setting means to actuate the same,

a tubing string threadedly connected to the r'irst of said supports and conlined against longitudinal movement within the upper abutments, whereby rotation of said tubing following setting of the anchoring means and packing element will move the `upper abutment and the second support Vupwardly to relieve the endwise force on the packing element to unset the same, Y

and means on the second support and engageable with the expander of the anchoring means upon subsequent upward movement of the second support to move the expander relative to the gripping slips to release the same.

5. A well packer apparatus as set forth in claim 4,

wherein the upper abutment has Va passageway communicating with said second support, Y

and a second tubing string lowerable into the well pipe after the rst string and well packer are positioned therein and having its lower end insertable into said passageway. l

6. A well packer apparatus as set forth in claim 4,

vit t with the iluid pressure operated settingmeans `tor'locking said setting'means inthe lposition'gto which-it has moved when the anchoring meansfand 'packing element were set, whereby the Vpressurefwhich actuatedl said setting means may be released and th'emechanical locking means will maintain the anchoring means and the packing element-in their set position,

said upper abutment having a passageway communieating with the second support,V t andV a second tubing string lowerable into the pipe after the .first string and well packer are positioned Y therein and having its lower end insertable into said passageway. 8. Awell ypacker apparatus as set forth in claim k4, together with a mechanical locking means associated with the fluid pressure operated setting means for locking said setting means in the position to which it hask said mechanical locking means comprising a lockingv rod and a gripping member adapted to engage said locking rod to prevent movementof'the rod in one direction relative to the gripping member,

said locking rod and gripping member being connected `one vto the cylinder and the other to the piston of the setting meanswhereby movement of said piston and cylinder relative to each other in a direction to set the anchoring means is permitted while movement of said piston and cylinder in an opposite vdirection is prevented.

9. A well packer apparatus as set forth in claim S,v together with a pressure responsive element engaging the gripping member of said locking means,

means communicating the pressure responsive element with the iluid under pressure which is utilized to actuate the setting means, whereby during actuation of the setting means a pressure force is applied to said pressure responsive velement and to the gripping member in a direction to maintain said gripping.

member in close Contact with the locking rod to assure instantaneous gripping engagement between said rod and said gripping member `upon release of the pressure uid Vwhich actuates'the setting means.

10. A well packer apparatus lowerable .within a well.`

necting the Huid pressure operated setting means with the packing element, whereby actuation of the setting means moves the pipe gripping members into pipe-engaging position and also moves the elastic packingV element into sealing engagement with the pipe wall, Y a tubing string having threaded connectionwith said tubular support, Y means vestablishing communication between the tub- Ving string and the setting means wherebyruid under pressure is-conducted to the setting means to actuate the Vsame, Y Y an abutment means engaging the upper end of the packing element and mounted on said tubingstring to coniine the packing element against upward movement during the setting operation, ,g v a mechanical locking means Vassociated with the settingrmeans for locking said setting means in the position to which it has moved during setting the anchoring means and packing element, whereby the l?. pressure which actuated said setting means may be released and the' mechanical locking means will maintain lthe anchoring means and the packing "element in their set position, and means for rotatably connecting the tubing ,string to the abutment means while conning said tubing against longitudinal movement relative thereto, whereby rotation of said tubing string without rotation of. the tubular support will actuate the threaded connection and move said abutment in a direction away from the packing element to release it from set position. 11. A well packer apparatus as set forth in `claim 10, wherein said locking means comprises,

a locking rod secured to one part of the setting means, and a gripping member carried by another part of said setting means, said locking rod and gripping member being constructed to allow movement of said parts of the setting leans relative to each other in a direction to set the anchoring means and packing element while preventing movement of said parts relative to each other in an opposite direction. l2. The combination with a well tool having anchoring means for anchoring the same within a well pipe, of a pressure-actuated setting means for eiecting setting of said anchoring means which comprises two parts movable relative to each other, said setting means including,

a cylinder and a piston movable Vrelative to each other, means for-conducting pressure fiuid into the cylinder to move the piston and cylinder relative to each other, means connecting one part of said anchoring means to the cylinder and the other part to the pist0n, wherebyv movement of the cylinder and piston relative to each other in one direction will set said Y anchoring means, a locking rod, a gripping member engage'able with said rod, the locking rod and gripping member being secured one to thefcylinder and the other tothe piston, said gripping member having means constructed to permit movement of the rod and member in the'v direction which these parts move when the pistonpa'nd cylinder move to set the anchoring means, said means of said gripping member preventing relative movement of said rod and gripping member in an opposite direction which'would permit movement of the piston and cylinder relative to eachv other in a direction to unset the anchoring means, whereby said locking rod and gripping member mechanically lock the piston and cylinder to prevent unsetting of the anchoring means. 13. The combination set forth in claim 12, together with a pressure-responsive means engaging the gripping member and having one side exposedto the pressure fluid which is conducted to the piston and cylinder to kactuate the same, said last-named `pressure-responsive means urging said gripping member into rm contact with the lockingrrod during actuation of said piston and cylinder, whereby *upony release of thepressure fluid within the cylinder whichmayresult in said piston and cylinder moving in an opposite-direction to unset-the anchoring means, said gripping member immediately grips said locking rod to lock the piston and cylinder against such movement to thereby instantaneously lock the anchoring means yagainst unSetting.

14. The combination `with a well tool having anchoring means including two parts movable relative to each other `for anchoring the same within a well pipe, of a pressureactuated setting means for effecting setting of said anchoring means, said setting means including,

a cylinder and a piston movable relative to each other, means vfor conducting pressure fluidinto the cylinder to move the piston and cylinder relative to each other, means connecting one part of said anchoring means to the cylinder and the other part to the piston, whereby movement of the cylinder and piston relative to each other in one direction will set said anchoring means,

responsive means to urge the gripping member into firm contact with its locking rod during actuation of said piston and cylinder,

iiuid pressure operated setting means comprising a piston secured to ithe lower end of one of the supa pair of locking rods having their upper portions seports and a cylinder secured to the gripping slips cured to the cylinder to be movable therewith, of the anchoring means, whereby actuation of the a gripping member for each rod engageable with the setting means effects a relative movement of piston rod and secured to the piston for movement with the and cylinder to first move the gripping slips into pipe piston, gripping position and to subsequently apply an end-V` each gripping member having means constructed to perwise force to the packing element through downmit movement of the rod and member in the direcward movement of said one tubular support and tion which these parts move when the piston and upper abutment with respect to the packing element, cylinder move to set the anchoring means, means communicating one of said supports with said said means of each gripping member preventing relafluid pressure operated setting Vmeans so that uid tive movement of its rod and the gripping member in 15 pressure may be conducted to said setting means to an opposite direction which would permit movement actuate the same, of the piston and cylinder relative to eacn other in the first tubular support having its upper end projecting a direction to unset the anchoring means whereby upwardly above the packer and into a passage in the said locking rod and gripping member mechanically upper abutment, Y lock the piston and cylinder to prevent unsetting of a tubing string having its lower end portion extending the anchoring means. into the passage of the upper abutment,` 15. The combination set forth in claim 14, together means within said passage engageable with said tubing with, string for rotatably mounting the string within the a pressure responsive means surrounding each rod and passage while preventing longitudinal movement` of engaging the gripping member associated with that the string with respect to the upper abutment, rod, and a threaded connection between the lower end pormeans communicating one side of each pressure retion of the tubing string and the projecting end of sponsive means with the pressure fluid which is conthe tirst tubular support whereby after the anchorducted to the piston and cylinder to actuate the same, ing means and packing element are set, a rotation of whereby such pressure acts against each pressure the tubing string relative to the stationary rst support will eiect an upward movement of the abutment to release the endwise setting force upon the packing element to retract it from sealing position.

release of the setting pressure uid which may result in said piston and cylinder moving in a direction lto unset the anchoring means, also releasing the fluid acting upon each pressure responsive means whereby each gripping member may immediately grip its locking rod to thereby lock the piston and cylinder against movement in a direction which would unset the anchoring means.

16. A well packer apparatus lowerable within a Well pipe including, Y

a first tubular support, Y

a second tubular support,

an upper abutment having connection with the upper ends of the supports, g

an elastic packing element slideably mounted on the threads, whereby release of the packing element is accomplished by right-hand rotationof said tubing string.

18. A Weil packer apparatus as set forth in claim 16 together With means on the second tubular support and engageable with the expander of the anchoring means when the upperl abutment and second support are moved upwardly by reason of rotation of the tubing string, whereby the expander is moved upwardly relative to the gripping slips to release the same.

References Cited inthe tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS supports and having its upper end Confined by the 2,903,065 Brown Sept. 8, 1959 upper abutment, 2,946,3 84 Brown July 26, 1960 anchoring means on the supports below the packing 2,999,544 Conrad et al Sept. 12, 1961 elements and including an expander which engages 3,045,754 Myers July 24, 1962 and confines the lower end of said packing element, Brown Mar. 12, 1963 17. A well packer apparatus as set forth in claim 161i wherein the threaded connection between the tubing string and the first tubular support comprises left-hand 

12. THE COMBINATION WITH A WELL TOOL HAVING ANCHORING MEANS FOR ANCHORING THE SAME WITHIN A WELL PIPE, OF A PRESSURE-ACTUATED SETTING MEANS FOR EFFECTING SETTING OF SAID ANCHORING MEANS WHICH COMPRISES TWO PARTS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, SAID SETTING MEANS INCLUDING, A CYLINDER AND A PISTON MOVABLE RELATIE TO EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR CONDUCTING PRESSURE FLUID INTO THE CYLINDER TO MOVE THE PISTON AND CYLINDER RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, MEANS CONNECTING ONE PART OF SAID ANCHORING MEANS TO THE CYLINDER AND THE OTHER PART TO THE PISTON, WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF THE CYLINDER AND PISTON RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN ONE DIRECTION WILL SET SAID ANCHORING MEANS, A LOCKING ROD, A GRIPPING MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ROD, THE LOCKING ROD AND GRIPPING MEMBER BEING SECURED ONE TO THE CYLINDER AND THE OTHER TO THE PISTON, SAID GRIPPING MEMBER HAVING MEANS CONSTRUCTED TO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF THE ROD AND MEMBER IN THE DIRECTION WHICH THESE PARTS MOVE WHEN THE PISTON AND CYLINDER MOVE TO SET THE ANCHORING MEANS, SAID MEANS AND SAID GRIPPING MEMBER PREVENTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID ROD AND GRIPPING MEMBER IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHICH WOULD PERMIT MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON AND CYLINDER RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN A DIRECTION TO UNSET THE ANCHORING MEANS, WHEREBY SAID LOCKING ROD AND GRIPPING MEMBER MECHANICALLY LOCK THE PISTON AND CYLINDER TO PREVENT UNSETTING OF THE ANCHORING MEANS. 